Mapping of Cultural Heritage
actions in European Union
policies, programmes and activities
Last update: April 2017
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This mapping exercise aims to contribute to the development of a strategic approach
to the preservation and valorisation of European heritage. It responds to the
"Conclusions on cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a sustainable Europe"
adopted by the Council of the European Union on 20th May 2014, and complements
the European Commission Communication "Towards an integrated approach to cultural
heritage for Europe", published on 22 July 2014. The document provides a wide (but
not exhaustive) range of useful information about recent policy initiatives and support
actions undertaken by the European Union in the field of cultural heritage.
Table of Contents
1. CULTURE ...................................................................................................... 5
1.1 EU policy / legislation ................................................................................ 5
Council Work Plan for Culture 2015-2018 ........................................................... 5
Priority Area A: Accessible and inclusive culture .................................... 5
Priority Area B: Cultural heritage ......................................................... 5
Priority Area C: Cultural and creative sectors: Creative economy and innovation ........................................................................................ 6
Priority area D: Promotion of cultural diversity, culture in the EU external relations and mobility ......................................................................... 6
Cross-sectorial Priority: Cultural statistics ............................................. 7
1.2 EU programmes / funding .......................................................................... 7
1.2.1. European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018 ..................................... 7
1.2.2 Creative Europe programme (2014-2020) .................................... 8
1.2.3 Special actions relevant for the heritage sector, supported under the Creative Europe programme ............................................................... 8
2. EDUCATION .................................................................................................10
ERASMUS+ programme ..................................................................................10
3. COHESION POLICY ........................................................................................11
EU structural funds 2014-2020 ........................................................................11
4. DIGITAL CULTURE ........................................................................................13
4.1 EU policy / legislation ...............................................................................13
4.1.1 Commission Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation ....................... 13
4.1.2 Directive on the re-use of public sector information ..................... 14
4.1.3 Commission Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana ..................................................................................................... 14
4.1.4 Film heritage .......................................................................... 14
4.1.5 Improved copyright rules for cultural heritage ............................. 14
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4.2 EU programmes / funding .........................................................................15
4.2.1 EUROPEANA ........................................................................... 15
4.2.2 Horizon 2020 programme ......................................................... 15
5. RESEARCH AND INNOVATION ........................................................................16
5.1 EU policy / legislation ...............................................................................16
5.1.1 European Research Infrastructures for Cultural Heritage .............. 16
5.1.2 Joint Programming Initiative in Cultural Heritage and Global Change (JPI CH) ......................................................................................... 16
5.1.3 High Level Horizon 2020 Expert Group on "Cultural Heritage" ....... 17
5.1.4 CULTURALBASE – Social Platform on Cultural Heritage and European Identities ........................................................................................ 17
5.2 EU programmes / funding .........................................................................17
5.2.1 Horizon 2020 programme ......................................................... 17
5.2.2 Other initiatives ...................................................................... 19
6. SCIENCE ......................................................................................................20
6.1. EU Policy / legislation ...............................................................................20
6.1.1 Characterisation of the Europe’s top regions for creative and cultural industries ....................................................................................... 20
6.1.2 Creativity related skills ............................................................. 20
6.1.3 Exploring creativity teaching oriented approach .......................... 21
6.1.4 European Cultural Index ........................................................... 21
6.1.5 Cultural and Creative City Monitor 2016 ..................................... 21
7. INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND ENTERPRENEURSHIP ..................21
7.1 EU policy / legislation ...............................................................................21
7.1.1 Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State .................................... 21
7.1.2. Commission Communication "Europe, the world's n°1 tourist destination - a new political framework for tourism in Europe" .............. 22
7.1.3 Joint Programme European Union-Council of Europe (CoE) 2015-17 ..................................................................................................... 22
7.1.4 Testing new support approaches for sustainable tourism in rural areas and access to cultural heritage under the European Mobile and
Mobility Industries Alliance and the European Creative Industries Alliance ..................................................................................................... 23
7.2. EU programmes / funding ........................................................................23
7.2.1 COSME Programme (2014-2020) and Cultural tourism ................. 23
7.2.2 Space Programme Copernicus (2014-2020) ................................ 24
8. COMBATTING ILLICIT TRADE OF CULTURAL GOODS .........................................24
8.1. EU policy / legislation ..............................................................................25
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Export and import of cultural goods .................................................................25
8.2. EU programmes / funding ........................................................................25
9. COMPETITION ..............................................................................................25
EU policy / legislation .....................................................................................25
10. COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP) ........................................................26
10.1 EU policy / legislation ..............................................................................26
10.2 EU programmes / funding ........................................................................26
11. MARITIME POLICY .......................................................................................27
11.1. EU policy / legislation .............................................................................27
11.2. EU programmes / funding .......................................................................27
12. ENVIRONMENT POLICY ................................................................................28
12.1 EU policy / legislation ..............................................................................29
12.2 EU programmes / funding ........................................................................29
13. CITIZENSHIP ..............................................................................................30
Europe for Citizens programme .......................................................................30
14. EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT ....................................................30
14.1 CANDIDATE AND POTENTIAL CANDIDATE COUNTRIES ................................30
14.1.1 EU programmes / funding ....................................................... 30
14.2 EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD ..................................................................31
14.2.1 Eastern Neighbourhood .......................................................... 31
14.2.2 Southern Neighbourhood ........................................................ 32
14.3. REST OF THE WORLD .............................................................................33
14.3.1 EU policy / legislation ............................................................. 33
14.3.2 EU programmes / funding ....................................................... 34
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1. CULTURE
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC)
1.1 EU policy / legislation
Council Work Plan for Culture 2015-2018
The Work Plan for Culture 2015-2018, adopted by the Council in December 2014,
defined four overarching priority areas for action, subdivided into three to four topics.
Each topic contains one to four action points as well as an indication of the outputs to
be delivered and the instruments to be used to that end. In addition, cultural statistics
are a cross-sectorial priority. Instruments and working methods include working
groups of Member States' experts meeting under the Open Method of Coordination
(OMC), expert groups convened by the Commission, stock-taking activities, studies
and reports.
Priority Area A: Accessible and inclusive culture
The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working groups (composed of Member State
experts) on Accessible and inclusive culture have been working on various key topics.
The OMC group on cultural expression and awareness, launched under the Council
Work Plan for Culture 2011-2014, completed its activities in 2015. The group delivered
a handbook of good practices and targeted recommendations on the development of
'cultural awareness and expression' as a key competence to integrate into education
policies and particularly in the context of lifelong learning.
An OMC group on improving access to culture via digital means (2015-2016) focuses
on the impacts of digital technologies on access, production and use of cultural
content. In addition, a sub-group of experts was established on promoting reading in
the digital environment. The sub-group published a policy handbook on e-reading,
which considers the digitisation of literary and textual cultural heritage. The report
includes a mapping of the regulatory framework, case studies from the EU and
Member States – including one on Europeana - and practical recommendations for
both policy-makers and stakeholders.
In addition, an OMC group on the contribution of culture to social inclusion will
commence work in 2017. Experts will map public policies dealing with social inclusion
through culture, identify good practices and draft recommendations for policy-makers
and cultural institutions.
Priority Area B: Cultural heritage
Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working groups
In a first phase, an Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working group (composed of
Member States' experts) is focused on participatory governance of cultural heritage
(2015-2016). In a second phase, the work will focus on skills, training and knowledge
transfer among the traditional and emerging heritage professions (2017-2018). The
groups will identify innovative approaches to the multilevel governance of tangible,
intangible and digital cultural heritage, and map best practices in training schemes for
heritage professionals.
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Study on Risk assessment and prevention for
safeguarding cultural heritage
The European Commission will undertake a study-mapping on the existing strategies
and practices on risk assessment and prevention for safeguarding cultural heritages at
national level. Natural catastrophes (such as fires, floods, and earthquakes), as well as
threats caused by human action (over-exploitation, pollution, unsustainable
development and conflict) will be considered.
Priority Area C: Cultural and creative sectors: Creative economy and
innovation
The Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working groups (composed of Member
States' experts) on Cultural and Creative Industries have been working on various key
topics.
Experts have identified and analysed alternative instruments to facilitate access to
finance for cultural and creative enterprises. The handbook 'Towards more efficient
financial ecosystems', published in 2015, reports on good practices in funding and
investment schemes for the cultural and creative sectors. Besides, the role of public
policies in developing the entrepreneurial and innovation potential of these sectors is
being explored by a specific OMC group. The group will deliver a manual of good
practices and recommendations for public authorities.
Finally, an OMC group on sustainable cultural tourism will commence work in March in
2017. Experts will identify ways to create a European tourism offer based on tangible
and intangible cultural heritage as a competitive factor to attract new forms of
sustainable tourism. The digitisation of cultural content, as well as methods and tools
to increase access to European cultural heritage will also be explored.
Priority area D: Promotion of cultural diversity, culture in the EU external
relations and mobility
Open Method of Coordination (OMC) working groups
In the context of the migratory and refugee crisis, an OMC working group (composed
by Member State experts) was introduced in 2015 through an amendment to the Work
Plan. The group is identifying and analysing the ways in which culture can help to
foster social inclusion, intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity. Experts are
preparing a Handbook of good practices, focusing particularly on the integration of
migrants and refugees in societies through culture and the arts.
The launch of an OMC working group on improving circulation of European films is
under consideration. The group will identify complementarities between film policies
and support instruments at regional, national and EU level and will produce a manual
of good practices and recommendations.
Stock-taking meetings
In 2016, a stock-taking meeting on the mobility of artists and cultural professionals
within the EU and beyond was organised by the European Commission. The seminar
focused on the practical obstacles to mobility (taxation, social security and visas),
while also reflecting, in a broader sense, on the importance of cultural mobility for the
creative process. A separate session focused on the question of providing information
to mobile artists and cultural professionals.
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Other two stock-taking meetings are foreseen in the following years under Priority D.
One will take form of a report, on behalf on the European Commission, on the
implementation of the UNESCO convention on the protection and promotion of the
diversity of cultural expression. A second stock-taking meeting on the mobility of
collections will be organised in 2018, to coincide with the European Year of Cultural
Heritage.
Studies
The European Commission is undertaking two studies under priority D. One analyses
current programmes addressing culture in countries of the European Neighbourhood
Policy, in the framework of Culture in EU's development cooperation policies. A second
study addresses the illicit trafficking of cultural objects, including EU import rules for
cultural objects illegally exported from third countries.
Cross-sectorial Priority: Cultural statistics
The production of reliable, comparable and up-to-date culture statistics is a cross-
sectorial priority in the Work Plan for Culture. In this regard, Eurostat compiles
statistics from different harmonised EU data sources and publishes online statistics on
cultural employment, international trade of cultural goods, cultural enterprises,
cultural consumption and participation.
These indicators are also explored in the third edition (2016) of 'Culture statistics', a
publication prepared by Eurostat with the support of the Directorate-General
Education and Culture (DG EAC). In addition, the publication offers contextual data on
students in cultural fields, language learning and international mobility. Information on
EU and international initiatives concerning cultural heritage, such as European Capitals
of Culture, European Heritage label and UNESCO's World Heritage List is also
provided.
1.2 EU programmes / funding
1.2.1. European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018
On August 2016, following an invitation by the Culture Council (composed by the 28
EU Culture Ministers), the European Commission presented a proposal to designate
2018 as the 'European Year of Cultural Heritage'.
The objective of this initiative is to raise awareness of the opportunities that cultural
heritage brings to European societies, mainly in terms of intercultural dialogue, social
cohesion and economic growth. At the same time, the European year aims at drawing
attention to the challenges that cultural heritage is facing, such as the impact of digital
shift, environmental and physical pressure on heritage site and illicit trafficking of
cultural objects.
In terms of measures to achieve its objectives, the Commission is proposing
information and promotion campaigns, events and initiatives to be taken at European,
national, regional and local levels. Individual Member States will likewise propose and
coordinate national activities, while the Commission is responsible for coordination at
EU level.
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1.2.2 Creative Europe programme (2014-2020)
Creative Europe seeks to safeguard and promote cultural and linguistic diversity and
to strengthen the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sectors. Between 2007
and 2013, the Culture Programme –which Creative Europe has replaced– funded 130
co-operation projects in the cultural heritage sector, for a total amount of about €40
million. Creative Europe continues to offer opportunities to cultural heritage projects.
It provides more funding for artists and cultural professionals to develop their skills
and to work across borders; more funding for transnational cultural activities within
and outside of the EU; support schemes tailored to the specific needs of the
audiovisual and the cultural sectors in the EU; easier access to private funding through
a financial guarantee facility; increased banking expertise in the cultural and creative
sectors; and it helps develop Europe’s competitiveness in culture and film while
safeguarding cultural and linguistic diversity.
The Creative Europe programme is one of the tools stimulating transnational
cooperation in the cultural heritage sector.
With a whole budget of €1.46 billion (€422 million for the Culture Sub-programme)
allocated for the period 2014-2020, the Creative Europe programme supports cross-
border projects in all fields of culture. In addition to grant individual projects, it also
supports special actions.
The programme is open to all creative and cultural organisations, from the EU Member
States, but also from a wide range of non-EU countries1.
1.2.3 Special actions relevant for the heritage sector, supported under the
Creative Europe programme
1.2.3.a European Heritage Days (EHD)
Joint Action with the Council of Europe (CoE)
The European Heritage Days (EHDs) is the most widely celebrated participatory
cultural event in Europe taking place every year in September. The Council of Europe
launched the initiative in 1985, which became a joint action co-organised with the
European Union in 1999. In both Organisations the programme is recognised as one of
the main flagship initiatives and an example of successful cooperation on European,
national, regional and local level. In the official EC website it is recognised as one of
the three EU actions specifically dedicated to cultural heritage.
The 50 signatory States to the European Cultural Convention take part in the
European Heritage Days by putting new cultural assets on view and opening up
historical buildings or sites normally closed to the public. The cultural events highlight
local skills, traditions, architectural styles and works of art that constitute shared
European Heritage. Enabling citizens to explore a wide range of cultural assets
through a number of themed events, European Heritage Days help uncover hidden
histories of people and places that have helped shaping the culture and heritage of
Europe and promote mutual understanding among citizens.
1 Details on the geographical coverage can be found at:
http://ec.europa.eu/culture/creative-europe/calls/index_en.htm
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More than 20 million people are estimated to participate in the EHD every year. Within
each country, a network of regional and local authorities, civic and private groups and
thousands of volunteers are in charge of organising annual events. The events are
organised around a special common theme. The participation of each country in the
celebration of a pan-European theme is optional, and national or local adaptation of
the theme is fully accepted. Countries which choose not to participate in the
celebration of the common theme can organise events around a special theme of their
choice.
1.2.3.b European Capitals of Culture (ECOC)
The European Capitals of Culture are one of the most ambitious cultural projects both
in scope and scale, and one of the best known and most appreciated by European
citizens.
The aim of the initiative is to promote and celebrate Europe's rich cultural diversity
and shared aspects of our heritage, and thereby promote mutual understanding and
intercultural dialogue. The European Capitals of Culture are also a unique opportunity
to regenerate cities, to give new vitality to their cultural life, to boost their creativity
and to change their image. This contributes to the long-term development of European
cities and their regions.
There is no specific requirement mentioned in the ECOC legal basis concerning the role
of heritage in the Capitals. However, the title is an excellent opportunity to highlight
the wealth, diversity and common features of cultural heritage across Europe.
The cities get two benefits from the European Union: the title or “brand”, which is an
official EU designation, and a grant of €1.5 million. This is cost-effective as this
amount is only a small proportion of the funding for their cultural programmes, which
in total vary between €6 and €100 million. The amounts invested in capital
expenditure have ranged between €10 and €220 million, sometimes partly from the
Structural Funds.
1.2.3.c European Heritage Label (EHL)
The European Heritage Label is given to heritage sites that celebrate and symbolise
European history, ideals, and integration. These sites are carefully selected for the role
they have played in European history and the activities they offer to highlight it. The
Label gives to European citizens, especially young people, new opportunities to learn
about our common yet diverse cultural heritage, and about our common history. It
contributes to bring European citizens' closer to the European Union. The European
Heritage Label can also help to increase cultural tourism, bringing significant economic
benefits.
The scheme was established by Decision 1194/2011/EU of the European Parliament
and of the Council. The Label is open to the participation of the Member States on a
voluntary basis.
Since 2013, 29 sites have been designated under the label: Neanderthal Prehistoric
Site and Krapina Museum (Krapina, Croatia), Heart of Ancient Athens (Athens,
Greece), Archaeological Site of Carnuntum, (Carnuntum, Austria), Abbey of Cluny
(Cluny, France), Olomouc Premyslid Castle and Archdiocesan Museum (Olomouc,
Czech Republic), Archive of the Crown of Aragon (Barcelona, Spain), Great Guild Hall
(Tallinn, Estonia), Sagres Promontory (Sagres, Portugal), General Library of the
University of Coimbra (Coimbra, Portugal), Imperial Palace (Vienna, Austria), Union of
Lublin (Lublin, Poland), Sites of the Peace of Westphalia (Münster and Osnabrück,
Germany), 3 May 1791 Constitution (Warsaw, Poland), Historic Ensemble of the
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University of Tartu (Tartu, Estonia), Hambach Castle (Hambach, Germany), Charter of
Law of Abolition of the Death Penalty (Lisbon, Portugal), Franz Liszt Academy of Music
(Budapest, Hungary), Mundaneum (Mons, Belgium), Peace Palace (The Hague,
Netherlands), Residencia de Estudiantes (Madrid, Spain), World War I Eastern Front
Cemetery No. 123 (Łuzna-Putski, Poland), Kaunas of 1919-1940 (Kauna, Lithuania),
Camp Westerbork (Hooghalen, Netherlands), Franja Partisan Hospital (Cerkno,
Slovenia), European District of Strasbourg (Strasbourg, France), Robert Schuman's
House (Scy-Chazelles, France), Alcide de Gasperi’s House Museum (Pieve Tesino,
Italy), Historic Gdańsk Shipyard (Gdansk, Poland), Pan European Picnic Memorial Park
(Sopron, Hungary).
1.2.3.d European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage /
Europa Nostra Awards
The EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards was launched in 2002 by
the European Commission in partnership with Europa Nostra. The prizes are awarded
for projects in the countries participating in the Creative Europe Programme. In the
official EC website, it is recognised as one of the three EU actions specifically
dedicated to cultural heritage.
The Prize celebrates and promotes excellence in cultural heritage work in Europe,
raising visibility of this among professionals, decision-makers and the general public.
In this way, it contributes to a stronger public recognition of cultural heritage as a
strategic resource for Europe’s society and economy. It also aims to promote high
standards and high-quality skills in conservation practice, to stimulate cross-border
exchange of knowledge among heritage professionals and to bringing together
different stakeholders in wider networks throughout Europe.
Prizes are awarded in four categories: conservation; research; dedicated service by
individuals or organisations, and education, training and awareness-raising. The prize
consists of two award levels; a Grand Prix of €10,000 (awarded to up to seven
entries), and an Award, presented to up to 30 entries. There is also a Public Choice
Award winner, chosen by online poll conducted by Europa Nostra.
2. EDUCATION
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC)
ERASMUS+ programme
The ERASMUS+ programme (2014-2020) aims to boost skills and employability
through education, training, youth, and sport. The programme provides opportunities
for over 4 million Europeans to study, train, gain work experience, and volunteer
abroad. It supports many different types of activities of varying scales.
These include the European Voluntary Service, mobility for Adult Education staff,
Strategic Partnerships, Sector Skills Alliances, Knowledge Alliances, Youth Capacity
Building, and Transnational Youth Initiatives.
The main opportunities of relevance to the cultural heritage sector are the following,
strands under Key Action 2 of the Erasmus+ Programme - Cooperation for innovation
and the exchange of good practices:
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- Strategic partnerships These are transnational projects open to organisations
active in the fields of education, training or youth as well as enterprises, public
authorities, and civil society organisations (at least 3 organisations from 3 different
programme countries per partnership). The partnerships are intended to test,
implement and promote innovative practices leading to high quality teaching, training, learning and youth work, institutional modernisation and societal innovation.
- Capacity building in the field of higher education These are transnational
cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between higher education
institutions from programme countries (EU-33) and some partner countries. Non-
academic partners (such as cultural sector stakeholders who are explicitly eligible) can
take part in order to strengthen links with society and business. The idea is to involve
the most appropriate and diverse range of partners in order to benefit from their
different experiences. The accent is put on the international dimension and the
capacity building namely in partners countries (improving the quality of higher
education and the level of competences and skills enhancing its relevance for the
labour market, modernisation of national policies and governance).
- Capacity building project in the field of youth These are transnational
cooperation projects based on multilateral partnerships between organisations active
in the field of youth, from programme countries (EU-33) and some partner countries.
Non-academic partners can take part (such as cultural sector stakeholders who are
explicitly eligible). Projects are intended to strengthen relations between the EU and
the third countries by providing young people and youth workers from Europe with the
opportunity to take part in exchanges and other non-formal education activities with their peers living outside the Union
- Knowledge Alliances. These are transnational, structured and result-driven
projects, between higher education and business partners (must involve at least 6
organisations from 3 different programme countries (EU-33) – out of which at least 2
Higher education institutions and 2 enterprises). Knowledge Alliances are open to any
discipline, sector (including cultural and creative sectors) and to cross-sectorial
cooperation. They are intended to strengthen innovation capacity (creativity) and
foster innovation in higher education, business and the broader socio-economic environment.
- Sector Skills Alliances. These are transnational, multi-partner projects, intended
to design and deliver joint vocational training programmes and teaching and training
methodologies in a specific economic sector (can include cultural and creative
sectors). They must draw on evidence of trends and skills needed in order to perform
in one or more professional fields. A particular focus is put on work-based learning,
providing learners with the skills required by the labour market.
3. COHESION POLICY
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO)
EU structural funds 2014-2020
Cultural heritage management is one of the investment priorities for the EU structural
and investment funds.
In the 2007-2013 period, out of a total of €347 billion for cohesion policy, the
European Regional Development Fund allocated €3.2 billion for the protection and
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preservation of cultural heritage, €2.2 billion for the development of cultural
infrastructure and €553 million for cultural services, which also benefited cultural
heritage.
Moreover, joint initiatives, such as JESSICA, were developed by the Directorate
General for Regional Policy in co-operation with the European Investment Bank group
and other financial institutions in order to make cohesion policy more efficient and
sustainable. JESSICA, Joint European Support for Sustainable Investment in City
Areas, is an initiative of the European Commission developed in co-operation with the
European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB),
supporting sustainable urban development and regeneration through financial
engineering mechanisms.
In the 2014-2020 period, cultural heritage investments are possible under the
specific regulations of cohesion policy, whose overall budget is €325 billion. The
relevant funds are the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the European
Social Fund (ESF), the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD),
and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF). These can cover a wide
spectrum of actors and activities in the public and non-for-profit sectors as well as in
the private sector (in particular benefitting small and medium-sized enterprises
‒SMEs.
The European Regional Development Fund regulation mentions specifically the
protection, promotion and development of cultural heritage among its investment
priorities under the objective "Preserving and protecting the environment and
promoting resource efficiency". In addition, there are funding opportunities under
other thematic objectives such as: research and innovation, information and
communication technologies (ICT), SME competitiveness, employment (-friendly
growth through the development of endogenous potential), social inclusion and
education and training. Investments in small-scale cultural heritage should contribute
both to the development of endogenous potential and to the promotion of social
inclusion, particularly among marginalised communities, by improving their access to
cultural and recreational services in both urban and rural contexts.
These funding opportunities exist for mainstream Operational Programmes focusing on
individual countries or regions under the investment for jobs and growth goal of the
ERDF as well as for multi-country cooperation programmes under the European
Territorial Cooperation goal.
The European Social Fund mentions cultural and creative skills; the heritage sector
can indirectly address the aims of this fund.
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development continues to support
restoration, maintenance, and upgrading of cultural and natural heritage of villages,
rural landscapes and high nature value sites. The EAFRD also addresses related socio-
economic aspects, and environmental awareness actions; and is complemented by the
LEADER programme (Liaison entre actions de développement de l'économie rurale)
which funds actions for community-led local development. For more details, see
section 11 on the Common Agricultural Policy.
Within the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund, under shared management,
€5,7 billion are available for community-led local development projects that promote
cultural heritage –including maritime cultural heritage– in fisheries areas. Under direct
management (€647 million), a multi-resolution seabed map of European seas will be
produced including sites of cultural interest (with appropriate safeguards in the case of
sites in danger of looting). The map will be used for tourism-promotion purposes, but
also to ensure that such sites are not damaged by offshore developments. Thematic
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underwater cultural heritage routes will be developed, together with Nautical Routes
where links with touristic segments such as cultural heritage will be promoted. The
potential of tourism in Maritime Protected Areas, including in terms of underwater
cultural heritage will also be studied. For more details see section 12 on Maritime
Policy.
In addition to the decentralised management of the structural funds, various EU
initiatives support cultural heritage in regions and cities, such as: INTERREG, URBACT,
etc.
4. DIGITAL CULTURE
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content &
Technology (DG CONNECT)
4.1 EU policy / legislation
4.1.1 Commission Recommendation on the digitisation and online
accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation
The Commission Recommendation 2011/711/EU on the digitisation and online
accessibility of cultural material and digital preservation, adopted on 27 October 2011
calls for concerted action by Member States to digitise and preserve their cultural
heritage, to make it available online for leisure, studies or work and for re-use in
creative efforts (e.g. in tourism or for education). The calls on Member States i.a. to
encourage their cultural institutions to make their digitised material available through
Europeana, to create the legal framework conditions underpinning licensing
mechanisms for the large-scale digitisation and cross-border accessibility of works that
are out-of-commerce and to promote the availability of databases with rights
information, connected at the European level, such as ARROW.
While the Orphan Works Directive2 and the Memorandum of Understanding on Out-of-
commerce Works3 aim at facilitating the digitisation and accessibility of copyrighted
material, the Recommendation on digitisation encourages public-private partnerships,
as well as the use of structural funds, to support digitisation. It also calls for the
reinforcement of national strategies for the long-term preservation of digital material.
In 2016, the Commission published a Report assessing the overall progress in the
implementation of the Recommendation. According to this evaluation, an increasing
number of countries is supporting open cultural heritage data and promoting its re-
use. Nevertheless, there are still great differences across Member States, and cultural
heritage digitisation remains widely dependent on cultural institutions' initiatives and
funding.
2 Directive 2012/28/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on certain permitted uses of orphan
works 3 Memorandum of Understanding on Key Principles on the Digitisation and Making Available of Out-of-Commerce Works
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4.1.2 Directive on the re-use of public sector information
The Directive 2013/37/EU (amending Directive 2003/98/EC) adopted on 26 June 2013
lays down the general principle that documents from libraries, museums and archives
shall be re-usable for commercial and non-commercial purposes, and promotes
availability in open, machine-readable format together with metadata and the use of
open standards.
4.1.3 Commission Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana
The Expert Group on Digital Cultural Heritage and Europeana (DCHE)4 was set up in
March 2017 as a continuation of the Member States' Expert Group on Digitisation and
Digital Preservation (MSEG)5. It will continue to serve as a platform for monitoring
progress in Member States with regards to the implementation of the Commission
Recommendation on the digitisation and online accessibility of cultural material and
digital preservation (2011/711/EU), as a forum for cooperation between Member
States bodies and the Commission at European level and to exchange information and
good practices of Member States policies and strategies. It will further give guidance
on Europeana, in particular the general objectives, priorities for actions and the
envisaged level of funding to be proposed for Europeana.
4.1.4 Film heritage
The Commission has recommended the Member States6 to systematically collect,
preserve, restore and facilitate cultural and educational uses of film heritage7. Every
two years, they send to the Commission some information on what they have done;
the fourth Implementation Report is under preparation at this stage.
The Digital Agenda for European Film Heritage (DAEFH) study identifies research areas
to improve film archive stability, durability and archive content security, including
open source systems, architectures optimised to preserve film collections, stable
digital formats and cloud-based storage, access and content security systems.
In addition, a Cinema Expert Group/Subgroup film heritage was set up by the
Commission to facilitate exchange of best practices in this area, with experts from
Member States and industry.
4.1.5 Improved copyright rules for cultural heritage
The Communication, adopted in May 2015, in which the Commission outlines a
Strategy to achieve a Digital Single Market, identified the need to reduce the
differences between national copyright regimes to ensure a better functioning of the
applicable rules across borders and to allow for wider online access to protected
content across the EU. On this basis, in December 2015 the Commission presented a
Communication, ‘Towards a modern, more European copyright framework’, outlining
an action plan for the modernisation of EU copyright rules. Among the initiatives
presented as part of this action plan, the proposal for a Directive on Copyright in the
4 Commission Decision C(2017)1444 of 7th March 2017
5https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/member-states-expert-group-digitisation-digital-
preservation 6 Recommendation 2005/865/EC on film heritage and the competitiveness of related industrial activities 7 Implementation report on the Recommendation on film heritage.
15
Digital Single Market (COM (2016) 593) published on 14 September 2016 is especially
relevant to the objective of supporting digital innovation for cultural heritage. The
proposed Directive provides for a legal mechanism to facilitate collective licensing
agreements for the dissemination and digitisation of out of commerce works (e.g.
books that publishers have stopped printing and selling) held by cultural heritage
institutions. This will reduce transaction costs and help cultural heritage institutions
digitise their collections. The legislative proposal includes also a mandatory EU-wide
exception which gives cultural heritage institutions the right to copy works in a way
that is suitable for the digital environment. This will cover works that were created
directly in digital form, and the digitisation of works in analogue formats, and help
audiences to have access to them for longer.
4.2 EU programmes / funding
4.2.1 EUROPEANA
Europeana, Europe’s digital platform for cultural heritage, was set up in 2008 and
today provides access to over 54 million items, (including image, text, sound, video
and 3D material) from the collections of over 3,700 libraries, archives, museums,
galleries and audio-visual collections from all over Europe. As such, it is a reference
for accessing and reusing culture online, having contributed strongly to the
development and implementation of standards and interoperability in this area. It
showcases also how Europeans can actively engage with their cultural heritage and
contribute their own memorabilia, e.g. from landmark historical events such as World
War I. Cooperation with Twitter or Facebook allows Europeana to engage with new
audiences through their favourite social media platforms.
Under the Connecting Europe Facility, Europeana is funded by the EU as a Digital
Service Infrastructure that makes culture widely accessible and provides data,
technology, tools and services to Europe’s cultural heritage sector and the creative
industries.
The Council Conclusions on the role of Europeana for the digital access, visibility and
use of European cultural heritage8, adopted by the EYCS Council on 31 May 2016,
confirm Member States' continued support for Europeana, recognise Europeana's
relevance both from a cultural as well as a digital innovation perspective, identify
challenges to be addressed and provide recommendations to Member States, the
Commission and Europeana.
4.2.2 Horizon 2020 programme
Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation,
encompasses activities and opportunities linked with information & communications
technologies for cultural heritage under Societal Challenge 6 "Europe in a changing
world: Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies", in particular in the areas of:
Advanced 3D modelling for accessing and understanding European cultural assets
(REFLECTIVE-7-2014), Innovation ecosystems of digital cultural assets (REFLECTIVE-
8 http://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-9643-2016-INIT/en/pdf
16
6-2015), Virtual museums and social platform on European digital heritage, memory,
identity and cultural interaction (CULT-COOP-08-2016), European cultural heritage,
access and analysis for a richer interpretation of the past (CULT-COOP-09-2017).
5. RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Responsible DGs: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) primarily
5.1 EU policy / legislation
5.1.1 European Research Infrastructures for Cultural Heritage
European (and international) multidisciplinary cultural heritage research requires
European research infrastructure facilities. Such European research facilities are long-
term projects. These European research infrastructures provide training of scientists
and engineers and promote knowledge transfer and development of innovative
techniques and instrumentation, so much needed in the preservation and restoration
of cultural heritage. The European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures –
ESFRI – identifies Research Infrastructures (RIs) of pan-European interest meeting the
long-term needs of Europe’s research communities across all scientific areas including
social and cultural innovation. The ESFRI Roadmap 2016 includes currently three
projects relevant to Cultural Heritage. Two are already delivering services or
effectively advancing in their construction. Both of these projects are European
facilities of a distributed nature (multi-national associations of geographically-
separated distinct entities that jointly perform, facilitate, or sponsor basic or applied
scientific research) and are based on the EU Regulation, the ERIC (European Research
Infrastructure Consortium): DARIAH ERIC (Digital Research Infrastructure for the Arts
and Humanities) and CLARIN ERIC (Common Language Resources and Technology
Infrastructure). One entirely new project was listed in the Roadmap update 2016:
ERIHS (European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science), which is expected to
reach implementation within the next ten years. While the role of the Member States
is crucial in the construction and long term operation of the ESFRI projects, the
Horizon 2020 research infrastructure action supports the emergence and the
implementation of these pan-European research infrastructures.
http://www.esfri.eu/roadmap-2016
5.1.2 Joint Programming Initiative in Cultural Heritage and Global Change
(JPI CH)
The Commission Recommendation (2010/238/EU) of 26th of April 2010 encourages
Member States to "develop a common strategic research agenda establishing medium
to long-term research needs and objectives in the area of preservation and use of
cultural heritage in the context of global change". The Joint Programming Initiative in
Cultural Heritage is an innovative and collaborative research initiative, with EU
support, intended to ensure a reinforced coordination between Member States,
Associated and Third Countries to help achieve the European Research Area (ERA) in
the field of cultural heritage. The initiative helps streamline and coordinate national
research programmes to enable more efficient and effective use of scarce financial
resources, exploit synergies and avoid duplication. Through the launch of a common
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joint call between participating Member States, sixteen transnational R&I projects on
tangible, intangible and digital heritage have been funded.
http://www.jpi-culturalheritage.eu
5.1.3 High Level Horizon 2020 Expert Group on "Cultural Heritage"
In 2015 the report of the Horizon 2020 Expert Group on Cultural Heritage 'Getting
cultural heritage to work for Europe'9 was published. The Expert Group, set up in 2014
to assist the Commission in framing a renewed R&I agenda for cultural heritage,
mainly argues that the EU should promote an innovative use of cultural heritage,
considered as a fundamental resource for the future. The strategic advice provided by
the Expert Group includes recommendations on how to stimulate new services linked
to cultural heritage, regarded as a production factor for the economy as well as a
catalyser for social cohesion and environmental sustainability. These new and future-
oriented R&I orientations are in line with the Commission communication 'Towards an
integrated approach to cultural heritage for Europe'10 and the related Council
conclusions and EP report.
5.1.4 CULTURALBASE – Social Platform on Cultural Heritage and European
Identities
The CULTURALBASE – Social Platform on Cultural Heritage and European Identities
(topic REFLECTIVE-9-2014 of Horizon 2020) brings together researchers, stakeholders
and policy-makers to address policy issues in a comprehensive way. It has the
objective to identify and analyse some of the main debates and controversies around
culture, in particular in relation to Heritage and European Identities. The platform also
supports the European Commission in the definition of an innovative and focused
research agenda in these thematic fields.
Duration: 2015-2017
www.culturalbase.eu
5.2 EU programmes / funding
5.2.1 Horizon 2020 programme
Since 1986 the EU has supported cultural heritage research within the framework of
its research framework programmes mainly under the environment theme. Under the
Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7),
around €180 million were invested in projects related to key aspects of cultural
heritage, addressing cultural interactions, museums, identities and linguistic diversity,
9 "Getting cultural heritage to work for Europe. Report of the Horizon 2020 expert
group on cultural heritage" European Commission, 2015.
http://bookshop.europa.eu/fr/getting-cultural-heritage-to-work-for-europe-
pbKI0115128/
10 COM(2014) 477 http://ec.europa.eu/culture/library/publications/2014-heritage-
communication_en.pdf
18
dedicated research infrastructures and, developing materials for the protection,
conservation and restoration of cultural heritage assets, predictive models, early
warning devices, technologies for adaptation and mitigation strategies, tackling energy
efficiency of historic buildings and strengthening collaboration and cooperation
between member states and non-EU countries.
Horizon 2020 is the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, (€80
billion for 2014 to 2020). Support for heritage-related research is available in the
three pillars of the programme: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership, and Societal
Challenges. In the latter, Challenge 6 "Europe in a changing world: Inclusive,
Innovative and Reflective Societies" mainly focuses on the transmission of European
cultural heritage, cultural literacy, identity formation, heritage of the shared and often
troubled European past, European collections of archives, cultural landscapes,
museums and libraries and digital opportunities. Challenge 5 "Climate action,
environment, resource efficiency and raw materials" addresses solutions for tangible
heritage, considered as a fundamental resource to improve urban and rural
environments and face climate change impacts. Particular emphasis is placed on
multidisciplinary research and innovation for the valorisation, enhancement and re-use
of cultural heritage through innovative methodologies, products and services. Large
demonstration projects for urban and rural regeneration have been launched to test
innovative solutions in the field.
The Horizon 2020 programme allows major steps to be taken by European research
and innovation in the field of cultural heritage preservation, restoration and
valorisation. The programme also funds innovative and sustainable business models of
SMEs in the cultural heritage field.
Relevant funding strands include:
H2020 EXCELLENT SCIENCE:
Grants for frontier research in all scientific fields (including cultural heritage) at
the European Research Council
Marie-Sklodowska Curie grants for international mobility and cooperation in all
scientific fields (including cultural heritage)
H2020 INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP:
NMBP 05-2017 Advanced materials and innovative design for improved
functionality and aesthetics in high added value consumer goods
NMBP 35-2017: Innovative solutions for the conservation of 20th century
cultural heritage
NMP-21-2014 Materials-based solutions for the protection or preservation of
European cultural heritage
H2020 SOCIETAL CHALLENGES
Societal Challenge 5 calls:
SC5-21-2016/2017: Cultural heritage as a driver for sustainable growth:
heritage-led urban regeneration (2016) and heritage-led rural regeneration
(2017) - large scale demonstration projects – innovation actions
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SC5-22-2017: Innovative financing, business and governance models for
adaptive re-use of cultural heritage – research and innovation actions
Horizon 2020 dedicated SME Instrument 2016-2017 (proposals for SMEs on
cultural heritage are eligible)
Societal Challenge 6 - Call – Understanding Europe - promoting the European public
and cultural space
CULT-COOP-02-2017: Improving mutual understanding among Europeans by
working through troubled pasts
CULT-COOP-03-2017: Cultural literacy of young generations in Europe
CULT-COOP-04-2017: Contemporary histories of Europe in artistic and creative
practices
CULT-COOP-05-2017: Religious diversity in Europe - past, present and future
CULT-COOP-06-2017: Participatory approaches and social innovation in culture
CULT-COOP-07-2017: Cultural heritage of European coastal and maritime
regions
CULT-COOP-09-2017: European cultural heritage, access and analysis for a
richer interpretation of the past
CULT-COOP-10-2017: Culture, integration and European public space
CULT-COOP-12-2017: The significance of cultural and core values for the
migration challenge
H2020 OPEN SME INSTRUMENT CALLS
SMEinst-12-2016-2017: Boosting the potential of small businesses in the areas
and priorities of Societal Challenge 5, where proposals for SMEs on cultural
heritage for sustainable growth are eligible.
SMEInst-62-2016-2017-SC6-CULT-COOP: New business models for inclusive,
innovative and reflective societies, where proposals for SMEs in creative sectors
and cultural heritage are eligible.
5.2.2 Other initiatives
Furthermore, a Horizon 2020 Inducement Prize on valorising the potential of cultural
heritage for sustainable development was launched in 2016 will be launched. Such a
prize is in line with new orientations on Research & Innovation for cultural heritage,
which position cultural heritage as a source of smart, inclusive and sustainable growth.
It offers a reward to those who most effectively meet a future challenge on cultural
heritage in the area of energy, promoting heritage-led innovations in European
communities.
In the past, other funding opportunities were linked to the Public-Private Partnership
(PPP) on "Energy-efficient Buildings" (EeB), launched by the European Commission in
cooperation with industrial partners as part of the European Economic Recovery Plan.
Since 2008, it managed to attract a high industrial participation and helped innovate
the building sector, including historic buildings. Under Horizon 2020, the PPP aims to
develop affordable breakthrough technologies and solutions at building and district
scale, facilitating the road towards future smart cities.
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6. SCIENCE
Responsible DG: Joint Research Centre (DG JRC)
6.1. EU Policy / legislation
The Council Conclusions on "cultural heritage as a strategic resource for a sustainable
Europe” of 20 May 2014 recognize that “cultural heritage has an important economic
impact, including as an integral part of the cultural and creative sectors” and calls on
Member States and the Commission to “improve the collection and analysis of
qualitative evidence and quantitative data” on broadly understood cultural heritage.
The JRC is currently investigating the importance of the Cultural and Creative
Industries (CCIs) to economic growth, with four research projects. The first – based
on a qualitative and quantitative study – aims to identify common features of
European regions with the highest concentration of CCIs. The latter two are data
driven statistical analyses that aim to explore the relative standing of Europe
compared to the US and Japan with respect to (1) 21st century competences (with
creative thinking included) and (2) the preferential teaching approach of teachers
(with the approach centred on students’ conceptual change included).
6.1.1 Characterisation of the Europe’s top regions for creative and cultural
industries
JRC conducts a qualitative and quantitative research project aiming at analysing the
characteristics of some of Europe’s top regions for creative and cultural industries,
ultimately aiming at finding some regional conditions that would allow explaining the
higher concentration of CCI in those regions. A documentary analysis is being
conducted aiming at studying historical, geographical and social characteristics of
these regions, complemented by a quantitative analysis. Regarding the quantitative
analysis, JRC’s aim is to characterise some of the European regions with high
concentrations of CCI taking into account region indicators, for instance, life
satisfaction rate, lifelong learning, skilled migrants, and population aged 15-34.
6.1.2 Creativity related skills
As various scholars claim that innovative societies become successful factors in the
economic development, JRC intends to investigate skills and competences related to
creativity and other 21st century/life skills because creativity is not only what enables
us to come up with new ideas (whatever the field), it is also the skill that enables us
to deal with new situations or problems that we have never confronted before. This
research is of exploratory nature. Its aim is to work out the profiles of competences of
adults taking into consideration both (1) skills (e.g. communication, mathematical,
problem solving, interpersonal, using technology) and (2) types of thinking derived
from the psychological theories (e.g. practical abilities, crystallised analytical, fluid
analytical and creative abilities). The method to be applied is a multivariate statistical
modelling of latent variable, e.g. latent class modelling or item response modelling,
dataset to be used comes from the Programme for the International Assessment of
Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Provided the adequate sample size and
representativeness of the results, these profiles are to be compared:
1. Across countries and regions - thanks to this the relative standing of Europe in
comparison to the US and Japan will be determined;
2. Across different type of industries – thanks to this the relative standing of the CCI
in comparison to other industries will be determined;
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6.1.3 Exploring creativity teaching oriented approach
The conclusions from the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council meeting (20th
May 2014) emphasize the strong contribution of cultural heritage, which includes CCI,
to the achievement of the EU 2020 strategy goals for a smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth. The Council of the European Union calls on member states and the
commission to “continue to promote education on cultural heritage, raise public
awareness on the potential of cultural heritage for sustainable development and to
encourage public participation, especially of children and young people, in cooperation
with civil society”. Knowing that research on the preconditions for developing
creativity suggests that the environment in which students learn is crucial and that
teachers play a key role in structuring and maintaining this environment, JRC is
conducting a project aiming at constructing the scale of creativity oriented approach
based on the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) data and to define
socio-economic characteristics of ‘creative class’ among teachers. Provided the
adequate sample size and representativeness of the results, attitudes presented by
teachers are to be compared across countries and regions - thanks to this the relative
standing of Europe compared to the US and Japan will be determined.
6.1.4 European Cultural Index
The JRC also supports the European Cultural Foundation and the Boekman Foundation
in constructing the European Cultural Index (ECI). Namely, the JRC provides statistical
expertise in the construction process and will perform the statistical audit of the ECI.
The audit comprises methodological tests of the suitability, reliability and robustness
of the composite index).
6.1.5 Cultural and Creative City Monitor 2016
The JRC is working on the development of the Cultural and Creative City Monitor (C3
Monitor), a tool that allows measuring and benchmarking cultural and creative
activities in European cities as well as assessing the social and economic impacts of
these activities to urban milieus. The tool aims to support policy-makers in drafting
and evaluating policies on culture and creativity and in identifying specialisation
strategies for cities.
7. INTERNAL MARKET, INDUSTRY, TOURISM AND ENTERPRENEURSHIP
Responsible DG: Directorate-General Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and
SMEs (DG GROW)
7.1 EU policy / legislation
7.1.1 Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects unlawfully
removed from the territory of a Member State
Directive 2014/60/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the return of
cultural objects unlawfully removed from the territory of a Member State was adopted
22
on 15 May 2014. As it was already the case with the previous Directive 93/7/EEC, the
new Directive is an internal market measure aimed at contributing to the protection of
Member States' cultural heritage in a space without internal frontiers.
Directive 2014/60/EU, which became applicable as from 19 December 2015, aims to
ensure the return within the EU of any cultural object classified or defined by a
Member State as being among the "national treasures possessing artistic, historic or
archaeological value" under national legislation or administrative procedures within the
meaning of Article 36 TFEU.
As it was the case with Directive 93/7/EEC, Directive 2014/60/EU provides for
cooperation mechanisms and return proceedings against the possessor to secure the
physical return of a cultural object unlawfully removed from the territory of one EU
country to the territory of another Member State on or after 1 January 1993.
Directive 2014/60/EU foresees the use of the Internal Market Information System
(IMI) to facilitate the administrative cooperation and exchange of information among
the national authorities in charge of the Directive. With a view to preventing and
combatting crime concerning cultural objects, the Directive stipulates that, in case of
return, the possessor must demonstrate that he exercised due care and attention
when acquiring the cultural object for obtaining a compensation.
In order to carry out the tasks provided for in the Directive, each Member State should
appoint one or more authorities.. The list of those central authorities is regularly
published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Moreover, the Commission set
up an expert group, composed of representatives from the Member States, to facilitate
the exchange experiences and good practices among Member States on the implementation of the Directive.
7.1.2. Commission Communication "Europe, the world's n°1 tourist
destination - a new political framework for tourism in Europe"
The Communication on "Europe, the world's n°1 tourist destination ‒ a new political
framework for tourism in Europe" was adopted by the Commission in June 2010. It
encourages a coordinated approach for initiatives linked to tourism and defines a new
framework for action to increase its competitiveness and its capacity for sustainable
growth, thus implying the promotion of cultural tourism as a driver for sustainable
social and economic development and the identification of good practices in
sustainable management of cultural tourism, including tangible and intangible
heritage.
7.1.3 Joint Programme European Union-Council of Europe (CoE) 2015-17
The Joint Programme on Cultural Routes between the Council of Europe and
the European Commission supports the European cultural tourism strategy. Already in
2010, a joint study signalled the enormous potential of the European Cultural Routes
for small business generation and clustering, but identified, among other challenges, a
weak brand image and marketing strategies. During the 2015-17 period, the main
goals of the Joint-Programme are to increase the visibility and quality of the Routes.
As part of this cooperation action, representatives of Cultural Routes, field
professionals and European representatives also meet to exchange good practices and
knowledge on crucial topics regarding the management of the Routes.
23
7.1.4 Testing new support approaches for sustainable tourism in rural areas
and access to cultural heritage under the European Mobile and Mobility
Industries Alliance and the European Creative Industries Alliance
Under the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme, three large-scale
demonstrators (CultWays, LIMES and GrowMobile) were launched under the European
Mobile and Mobility Industries Alliance (EMMIA) to test and demonstrate better
support to sustainable tourism in rural areas, where innovative mobile solutions could
be used to facilitate access to cultural heritage sites, for better informing tourists
about the manifold but often dispersed activities in a region and/or to offering smarter
solutions. The three large-scale demonstrators addressed information, location, access
and safety needs for tourists in Europe, who wish to visit cultural heritage sites and
routes that are off the beaten tourist track. They develop and test scalable and
transferable concepts for providing mobile services for tourists. They were
implemented between 2012 and 2013 through public-private partnerships and in close
collaboration with local tourism agencies, authorities and businesses in rural areas
with valuable but under-exploited cultural heritage. For more information, see
http://www.mobilise-europe.mobi/large-scale-demonstrators-real-live-testing/
In addition, two European Creative Districts (Creative Wallonia in Belgium and CREATE
in Tuscany, Italy) were launched in 2013 with the aim to demonstrate the
transformative power of creative industries for the rejuvenation of traditional industrial
regions. The ‘Creative District’ project was an initiative by the European Parliament
and was implemented through two grant agreements by the European Commission’s
Enterprise and Industry Directorate-General. The action programme ended in 2015.
The European Creative Districts were linked to and are contributing to the policy
discussions of the European Creative Industries Alliance. This initiative was set up in
2012 to develop and test new policies and tools for better business support, better
access to finance and facilitating cluster excellence and networking for the further
development of creative industries and for promoting linkages with other industries.
For more information, see http://www.eciaplatform.eu/project/creative-districts/
7.2. EU programmes / funding
7.2.1 COSME Programme (2014-2020) and Cultural tourism
7.2.1.a. European cultural routes
The Commission supports projects promoting sustainable thematic tourism products,
having a potential to contribute to sustainable tourism growth (linked to, for instance,
cultural routes crossing several countries on different topics, cycling paths, eco-
tourism products, historical, religious-pilgrim tourism, tourism capitalising on the
maritime and sub-aquatic cultural heritage, industrial heritage, etc).
The Commission is also working with UNESCO to develop trans-European Cultural
Routes around UNESCO World Heritage sites (i.e. Royal Europe, Romantic Europe,
Ancient Europe and Underground Europe) and with UNWTO on Western Silk Road
tourism development.
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7.2.1.b. Diversification of the tourism offer through
synergies with creative and high-end industries
A call for proposals for supporting the promotion and development of transnational
thematic tourism products linked to cultural and creative industries (CCIs) will be
published end of April 2017. A particular focus will be put on tourism products
(routes/itineraries/trains/tourism offers) capitalising on European cultural heritage and
CCIs-related technologies in promoting these tourism products and enhancing visitor's
experience.
7.2.1.c. EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence
The initiative "EDEN – European Destinations of Excellence", launched in 2006, draws
attention to the values, diversity and common features of European tourist
destinations. It enhances the visibility of emerging European destinations, creates a
platform for sharing good practices across Europe and promotes networking between
awarded destinations. National competitions take place every second year and result
in the selection of a tourist "destination of excellence" (EDEN award) for each
participating country. The key feature of the selected destinations is their commitment
to social, cultural and environmental sustainability. This European quest for excellence
in tourism is developed around an annual theme, chosen by the Commission together
with the relevant national tourism bodies. So far, rural tourism, intangible heritage
and protected areas, aquatic tourism, regeneration of physical sites, accessible
tourism and local gastronomy have been the main EDEN themes. 140 winning
destinations and up to +350 runners-up from 27 different European countries were
selected since 2007 and 140 destinations have already been awarded. In 2017, EDEN
focuses on cultural tourism, i.e. destinations which have developed a specific tourism
offer based on their local tangible cultural assets. For more information, see
http://edenineurope.eu
7.2.2 Space Programme Copernicus (2014-2020)
The Earth observation programme Copernicus provides a panoply of satellite data and
information enabling the monitoring and the protection of cultural heritage. A
workshop on the technical requirements for the activation of a dedicated portfolio of
products in support of cultural heritage has been organised in April 2017, in the
perspective of including this line of services in the Copernicus Work Programme 2018.
Some Copernicus awards, like the Copernicus Masters, with focus on cultural heritage
applications have already been granted. See: www.copernicus.eu and
www.copernicus-masters.com/index
8. COMBATTING ILLICIT TRADE OF CULTURAL GOODS
Responsible DGs: Directorate-General for Taxation and Customs Union (DG TAXUD),
Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC), Directorate-
General Internal Market and Services (DG GROW)
25
8.1. EU policy / legislation
Export and import of cultural goods
Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009 on the export of cultural goods (previous:
Council Regulation (EEC) No 3911/92)
Council Regulation 116/2009 on the export of cultural goods lays down provisions to
ensure that exports of cultural goods are subject to uniform controls at the Union's
external borders. It was adopted in view of the creation of the internal market in
January 1993, in an attempt to reconcile the principle of free movement of goods and
the need for Member States to protect their national treasures.
The categories of cultural objects covered by the Regulation are listed in its Annex I.
The export of cultural goods outside the Union's customs territory is subject to the
presentation of an export licence.
The Commission Work Programme for 2017 provides that the Commission will present
a proposal targeting illicit trade in cultural goods. Work on a draft regulation has
already started (DG TAXUD) and the proposal is expected in the secong quarter of
2017.
Return of cultural objects to the Member State of origin
The Directive 2014/60/EU on the return of cultural objects unlawfully removed from
the territory of a Member State seeks to ensure that Member States can obtain the
physical return of any cultural object identified as national treasure possessing artistic,
historic or archaeological value that was unlawfully removed from their territory on or
after 1 January 1993. This measure contributes therefore to the protection of Member
State's cultural heritage and to the combat against illicit trade of cultural objects.
8.2. EU programmes / funding
In 2017-2018 the EU will finance UNESCO-implemented action on engaging European
art market stakeholders in the fight against the illicit trafficking in cultural property.
The project will aim at reinforcing due diligence conduct in the European art trade
while sensitizing relevant stakeholders to the different implications of illicit trafficking
in cultural property – from the consequences regarding the protection of cultural
heritage to terrorism financing and money laundering. By doing so, the action will also
enhance the capacity of European States to protect cultural heritage within and
beyond its borders in a more efficient way.
9. COMPETITION
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Competition (DG COMP)
EU policy / legislation
As part of the state aid rules review, the EU's Council of Ministers adopted the revision
of the enabling regulation on 22 July 2013. This created the legal basis for the
exemption from notification for state aid for culture and heritage conservation.
26
The exemption is provided by the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER),
entered into force in 2014. GBER provides conditions for exemption from the
obligation to notify state aid to – amongst others - culture and heritage conservation
and audio-visual sectors.
10. COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY (CAP)
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (DG
AGRI)
10.1 EU policy / legislation
Launched in 1962, the overall aim of the CAP is to improve agricultural productivity so
that consumers have a stable supply of affordable food, and to ensure that EU farmers
can make a reasonable living.
One of the instruments of the CAP, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural
Development (EAFRD)11
aims to promote social inclusion, poverty reduction and
economic development in rural areas.
The EAFRD has supported the upgrade of rural cultural heritage and improved access
to cultural services in rural areas, by providing investment and training support to
cultural and creative businesses, which also promotes networking and the
development of clusters.
In 2007-2013 the EAFRD invested the following amounts:
1. Conservation and upgrading of rural heritage: €1,221,036,980
2. Support for the creation and development of micro-enterprises with a view to
promoting entrepreneurship and developing the economic fabric (€2,082,234,786).
In the 2013-2020 period, the EAFRD is still supporting cultural-heritage related
activities connected to two priority areas of intervention: (i) facilitating diversification,
creation and development of small enterprises, as well as job creation and (ii)
fostering local development in rural areas.
10.2 EU programmes / funding
Support for studies and investments associated with the maintenance,
restoration and upgrading of the cultural and natural heritage of villages, rural
landscapes and high nature value sites, including related socio-economic
aspects, as well as environmental awareness actions
LEADER community-led local development – funds available to upgrade rural
cultural heritage and improve access to cultural services in rural areas
Business development (start-up aid for non-agricultural activities in rural areas
and related investments): business support for rural micro- and small
businesses. Provides start-up money – up to 70,000 for new businesses
11 Relevant provisions: Recital 18 natural and cultural heritage; Article 20 – Basic Services and village
renewal in rural areas: (1d): local basic services, including leisure and culture, and the related infrastructure; (1f) studies and investments associated with cultural and natural heritage
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Vocational training and skills acquisition
Examples of rural development projects are available on the European Network for
Rural Development website, searchable by theme, e.g.: culture / heritage.
11. MARITIME POLICY
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE)
11.1. EU policy / legislation
As part of EU's Blue Growth strategy, the coastal and maritime tourism sector has
been identified as an area with special potential to foster a smart, sustainable and
inclusive Europe. European coastal and maritime heritage is, in particular, one of the
best touristic products Europe have to offer our visitors and a competitive advantage
vis-à-vis other touristic regions of the globe. The Communication on a European
Strategy for Growth and Jobs in Coastal and Maritime Tourism "encourages the
diversification and integration of coastal and inland attractors, including through
transnational thematic itineraries like cultural, religious or ancient trade routes"
(Action 11) and suggests Member States to "develop cultural heritage based tourism,
underwater archaeological parks (based on work done by UNESCO), and nature and
health tourism in coastal destinations". Delivering on this action, the Commission has
launched in 2016 a call for proposals for the creation of underwater cultural heritage
routes in Europe. Furthermore, a call for the creation of routes on nautical tourism
was launched in November 2016. This call will support transnational projects that
promote nautical tourism, including through association with other thematic touristic
segments, including maritime heritage promotion segments. Moreover, a study on the
Economic Benefits of Maritime Protected Areas (MPAs) will be launched by the end of
2016. This study will seek the potential of tourism in MPAs, including the potential of
underwater cultural heritage in these areas.
The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) which is an initiative
from the European Commission (DG MARE) as part of its Marine Knowledge 2020
strategy aims to provide better information on whereabouts and nature of underwater
cultural heritage sites. The Commission intends to work towards a mapping of
maritime cultural heritage sites which will be completed by 2018. This multi-resolution
seabed map of European seas will be produced with appropriate safeguards in the
case of sites in danger of looting. This will be useful not only for tourism promotion
but also by raising tourists' awareness on the need to protect possible endangered
sites.
11.2. EU programmes / funding
During the programming period 2007-2013, under the European Fisheries Fund
(4.3 billion EUR); funding was available for community-Led Local Development in
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fisheries areas. Projects promoting cultural heritage in coastal and inland fisheries
areas were be supported.
Building on the good practice developed during the implementation of the EFF, the
European Maritime and Fisheries Fund12 (EMFF), which is the fund for the EU's
maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020, promotes funding opportunities for
community-Led Local Development projects in fisheries areas, under shared
management, with a budget of 5.7 billion EUR: local development strategies can
promote social well-being and cultural heritage in fisheries areas including maritime
cultural heritage and fund projects in these areas. Under the EMFF, the Commission
also supports the different maritime regional strategies, namely the EU Strategy for
the Baltic Sea Region, the Atlantic Strategy and the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and
Ionian Region, where the promotion of cultural heritage is specifically addressed13 and
promoted.
Under direct management funding of €647 million is available including for support of
projects under maritime cultural heritage.14
12. ENVIRONMENT POLICY
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for the Environment (DG ENV)
12 The European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) promote the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy and Integrated Maritime Policy (incl. promoting a balanced & inclusive territorial development of fisheries areas), with a budget of 5,7 billion EUR in shared management (plus 647 million in direct management).
13 E.g. the Action Plan for a Maritime Strategy in the Atlantic area: Delivering smart, sustainable and
inclusive growth (COM(2013) 279 final), where a specific objective of priority 4 is to preserve and promote the Atlantic's cultural heritage. Also the Communication concerning the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (COM(2014) 357 final) highlights the cultural heritage of the region and encourages the diversification of the tourism offer.
14 Funding opportunities under EMFF direct management are available at:
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/financial_assistance/index_en.htm
Examples of community-Led Local Development funded projects (2014-2020)
PL: A platform for fishermen to promote and sell their products was established in the
centre of Gdansk's old town by reviving the ancient tradition of the fish market.
UK: A project to help preserve and promote the local fishing communities of North
Devon through the production of 10 short films.
IT: An online radio was launched to promote Mediterranean fisheries heritage, coastal
cultures and traditions in the Apulia region.
For more project examples see also the European Fisheries Areas Network (FARNET)
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12.1 EU policy / legislation
Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (EIA)
The EIA Directive, adopted in 1985, applies to the assessment of the effects of certain
public and private projects on the environment. Several elements of the Directive refer
to the need of a proper assessment of the effects of projects on cultural heritage. On
16 April 2014, a Directive (2014/52/EU) was adopted, further strengthening the
cultural heritage dimension of the Environmental Impact Assessment process. It
provides that the environmental impact assessment shall identify, describe and assess
the direct and indirect significant effects of a project on "material assets, cultural
heritage and the landscape" [art.3 (d)].
Nature & Biodiversity
The EU Biodiversity Strategy15 aims to halt the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem
services by 2020 and preserve Europe's natural capital. EU's nature legislation16,
underpinning the European ecological network of protected areas Natura 2000, are
key pillars of the Strategy. There is increasing evidence of the close interrelationship
and synergies between Europe's natural and cultural capital, as set out in the Charter
of Rome17. In that context biodiversity and ecosystems, in particular within Natura
2000 sites, provide significant cultural and recreational assets and associated socio-
economic benefits, including sustainable tourism. Following a preliminary study on
links between Natura 2000 and cultural sites18, a series of case studies are currently
being carried out in order to further explore those links and optimise the potential for
synergies. In the context of the EU MAES initiative, methodologies are being
developed to map, assess and value cultural ecosystem services for the integration of
these values into accounting and reporting systems. Finally the initiative under the
Strategy to develop a Green Infrastructure in Europe19 offers opportunities for
enhancing the integration of natural and cultural heritage.
12.2 EU programmes / funding
A whole range of initiatives focusing on environmental issues like the Natura 2000
award20 and the European Green Capital Award, as well as various projects supported
by the LIFE programme (2014-2020) and again by the European Structural and
Investment Funds contribute to enhancing and preserving cultural heritage.
15 COM (2011) 244)
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/strategy/index_en.htm
16 Birds 2009/147/EC and Habitats 92/43/EEC Directives
17
http://register.consilium.europa.eu/doc/srv?l=EN&f=ST%2016540%202014%20INIT
18
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/financing/docs/Scoping%20stud
y%20N2000%20and%20culture.pdf
19 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/index_en.htm
20 http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/awards/
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13. CITIZENSHIP
Responsible DG: Directorate-General for Communication (DG COMM)
Europe for Citizens programme
The Europe for Citizens programme (2014-2020) aims at contributing to citizens’
understanding of the Union, its history and diversity and at fostering European
citizenship and improving conditions for civic and democratic participation at Union
level. The remembrance strand of the programme, focusing on keeping the memories
of the past alive as a means of moving beyond the past and building the future, is
linked to cultural heritage and history. Town-twinning projects also encompass
activities related to cultural heritage.
14. EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT
Responsible DGs: Directorate-General for Development and Cooperation (EuropAid);
Directorate-General for Enlargement (DG ELARG)
14.1 CANDIDATE AND POTENTIAL CANDIDATE COUNTRIES
In the enlargement context, the bilateral and regional cultural cooperation activities
are recognised as making a fundamental contribution to the promotion of European
values and intercultural dialogue. This is of particular relevance in the Western
Balkans, where in addition to fostering democratisation, reconciliation and respect for
human rights, culture contributes to the development of the local economy.
14.1.1 EU programmes / funding
14.1.1.a. Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance IPA and IPA II
The IPA offered financial assistance to candidate and potential candidate countries,
with an estimate €33 million dedicated to cultural heritage between 2007 and 2011.
Its successor, IPA II (2014-2020) builds on the results already achieved, including for
cultural heritage projects. In addition, funding for heritage purposes is also provided
through bilateral Actions.
Examples of cultural heritage projects funded by IPA
AL- A project to support sustainable and integrated development of historical
heritage sites in the towns of Korça, Elbasan, Shkodra and Berat.
MK- A project to protect and improve access to the Old Bazaar in Skopje's old city.
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14.1.1.b. "Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan/Survey of
the Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH)"
–Joint Action with Council of Europe
The EC and the Council of Europe have conducted, as from 2003, a joint action in
South East Europe: the "Integrated Rehabilitation Project Plan/Survey of the
Architectural and Archaeological Heritage (IRPP/SAAH)" better known as "Ljubljana
Process I". This project developed a methodology to rehabilitate sites and contribute
to economic development and reconciliation. Participating countries were Albania,
Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia,21 Kosovo22, the Former Yugoslav Republic
of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania and Serbia.
After this successful first phase, in 2011 a new operational framework was launched,
the "Ljubljana Process II. Rehabilitating our Common Heritage" with the agreement of
the Ministers of Culture of South East Europe. The project has been implemented by
the ''Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) Task Force on Culture and Society'' with the
financial support of the Instrument for Pre-Accession.
The second phase of the process, concluded in May 2014, put the basis for the
sustainability of the rehabilitation processes by ensuring that they will be managed by
the countries themselves.
14.2 EUROPEAN NEIGHBOURHOOD
Cooperation with European Neighbourhood partner countries in the East and in the
South on a regional basis, as well as cooperation among the partners themselves, is
crucial. It complements national assistance programmes, addresses challenges with a
regional dimension and promotes cooperation among partners on issues of mutual
interest.
Projects are funded by the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI), the main
financial mechanism through which assistance is given to European Neighbourhood
Policy (ENP) countries, plus Russia. For the 2014-2020, ENI has a budget of €15.4
billion. The vast majority of ENI funding is used for bilateral actions, but the
instrument also supports regional, Neighbourhood-wide and Cross-Border Cooperation
(CBC) programmes to complement bilateral cooperation. Due to its contribution to
economic and social development in the regions, the promotion of local culture and
preservation of historical heritage is one of the ENI-CBC thematic objectives for the
period.
Information on projects in the field of heritage can be found on the webpage of the
info centre.
14.2.1 Eastern Neighbourhood
14.2.1.a. EU policy / legislation
Cooperation in the cultural field, including heritage, is promoted in the context of the
Eastern Partnership –a joint initiative between the EU, EU countries and the Eastern
European Partner countries. It enables partner countries interested in moving towards
the EU and increasing political, economic and cultural links to do so. It is underpinned
21 Croatia has been a Member State of the European Union since 1st of July 2013. 22 Under UNSCR 1244/99.
32
by a shared commitment to international law and fundamental values –democracy, the
rule of law and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms –and to the
market economy, sustainable development and good governance.
As part of this framework, the "Tbilisi declaration", an outcome of the Eastern
Partnership Ministerial Conference on Culture held in June 2013 in Georgia, provides
confirmation from the Eastern Partners of their intention to pursue the reform and
modernisation of their cultural policies and to fully implement the 2005 UNESCO
Convention.
Moreover, in October 2013 Ukraine hosted a seminar on the implementation of the
2005 UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural
expressions in Lviv. The seminar proved to be instrumental in promoting regional
cooperation and exchange of national practices regarding the implementation of the
Convention, including from EU Member States.
14.2.1.b. EU programmes / funding
EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity 2015-2018
The EU-Eastern Partnership Culture and Creativity Programme, implemented from
2015 to 2018, aims to support the cultural and creative sectors’ contribution to
sustainable humanitarian, social and economic development in ENP Eastern countries.
The budget of the Programme is €4,2 million and focuses in four priorities:
development of evidence-gathering mechanisms, capacity-building, raising awareness
and providing opportunities for international cultural cooperation. Archives, libraries
and museums, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the creative arts and the
audio-visual sector are some of the subsectors included in the programme.
14.2.2 Southern Neighbourhood
14.2.2.a. EU policy / legislation
Cooperation in the cultural field, and particularly in cultural heritage, has been a
mainstay of the Euro- Mediterranean relations since the launch of the Barcelona
process in 1995. Central issues in regional cooperation have been the recognition of
the Mediterranean basin as a cradle and crossroads of civilisations, and the
preservation and enhancement of the shared cultural heritage.
The Euromed Heritage programme, launched in 1998, committed a total of 57 million
euros to fund partnerships between conservation experts and heritage institutions
from the countries of the region.
Culture was further defined as a priority in the 2008 Euro Mediterranean Ministries of
Culture Conference in Athens. An outcome of the Conference was the adoption of the
Strategy for the development of Euro-Mediterranean cultural heritage: priorities from
Mediterranean countries (2007-2013), the first policy document allowing partner
countries to articulate their priorities on cultural heritage. Since then, many
programmes and initiatives on Euro-Mediterranean heritage have been implemented.
Currently, cultural heritage is addressed in the frame of the Media and Culture for
Development in the Southern Mediterranean Programme (2013-2017). With a total
budget of €17 million, the programme builds on the work of two former regional
programmes, Euromed Audiovisual and Euromed Heritage.
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14.2.2.b. EU programmes / funding
Med Culture (2014-2018)
Med Culture (2014-2018) is the cultural component of the Media and Culture for
Development in the Southern Mediterranean Programme (2013-2017), and aims at
accompanying Southern Mediterranean partner countries in the development and
improvement of cultural policies and practices. Within the sub-programme, tangible
and intangible heritage projects are funded through SouthMed CV grants.
14.2.2.c. UNESCO-EU Cooperation in the Southern
Mediterranean region
The European Union and its Delegations in the Southern Mediterranean Region
actively cooperated with UNESCO in the past years. The bi-lateral cooperation has
been focused mainly on cultural heritage. The EU supports the UNESCO’s Action Plan
to safeguard cultural heritage in Syria, launched in 2014, with €2.46 million. Heritage-
related activities are also supported in Egypt and the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
The European Union has been collaborating with UNESCO through its regional
programmes in the Mediterranean, in particular the Euromed Heritage programme.
UNESCO was the leader of the Medliher project focusing on safeguarding the
intangible cultural heritage of the partner countries.
14.3. REST OF THE WORLD
14.3.1 EU policy / legislation
EU Strategy for international cultural relations
In 2016, the Commission adopted the Strategy for international cultural relations, in
line with the priority to make the EU a stronger global actor and as a means to
improve relations with partner countries.
The strategic vision to advance international cultural relations is also underpinned by
the Preparatory Action on Culture in EU External Relations, which highlighted the need
to implement a new model of cultural cooperation, based on co-operation and peer-to-
peer learning.
Reinforcing cooperation on cultural heritage is one of the three main objectives of the
strategy, focusing on the development of sustainable strategies for heritage protection
through training, skills development and knowledge transfer.
China
Cultural heritage has also been identified as one of the three priority areas of
cooperation in the 2012 EU-China Joint Declaration on cultural cooperation. It is, in
addition, one of the 3 main areas covered by the mapping of the EU-China cultural
and creative landscape (2015), a study financed jointly by the EU and the Government
of the People's Republic of China.
Being sustainable urbanisation a priority area for research and innovation cooperation
between China and the EU, future collaboration in exploring natural and cultural
heritage-based solutions are also foreseen.
India
The preservation (and digitisation) of cultural heritage has been set as the priority of
the Policy dialogue on culture with India.
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Brazil
Cultural heritage was one of the priority areas of the Joint Programme on Culture
between the European Commission and the Ministry of Culture of Brazil (2011-2014).
The programme included policy dialogue and exchange of expertise and practices on
the protection and promotion of cultural, natural and historical heritage.
14.3.2 EU programmes / funding
The Development Co-operation Instrument (DCI) for the period 2007-2013 was
composed of a wide range of geographic and thematic instruments, including
“Investing in people”, which aims to support actions in the area of human and social
development, including culture and cultural heritage. Although culture has not been
flagged as a priority in the new external instruments (2014-2020) a number of
cultural heritage projects may still be funded in the future as part of EU cooperation
with third countries.
Examples of projects funded under the Development Co-operation Instrument:
Heritage Recovery and Cultural Development in Havana: Segundo Cabo
Palace (2010-2014)
This project contributes to the sustainable preservation of threatened heritage sites in
Old Havana for the benefit of all, and contributes to strengthening cultural and
scientific EU-Cuba relations.
Cultural Heritage & Management Venture Lab in Ahmedabad, India (launched
in 2014)
This project focuses on strengthening capacities of cultural agents and facilitating an
environment for creativity, innovation, professionalization and entrepreneurship in
Cultural Heritage & Management, in order to allow the people of the region of Gujarat
to fully benefit from the potential of cultural heritage as an economic value.
Emergency Safeguarding of the Syrian Cultural Heritage is a project funded
from the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI) for 2.5M€ in the years 2013-
2016, to be prolonged for the next 3 years for 2M € from the DCI. It is implemented
by UNESCO and has three axes of work: damage assessment and monitoring through
the creation of UNESCO’s Observatory of Cultural Heritage of Syria, awareness raising
for the international and national audiences, as well as training and capacity building
in the areas of built, movable and intangible heritage.
Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) will provide financing for
the project "protecting Cultural Heritage and diversity in complex emergencies for
stability and peace". It will be implemented by UNESCO in Iraq, Libya, Syria and
Yemen. The project aims at enhancing UNESCO’s capacity to respond more rapidly to
needs associated with the protection of culture and diversity in complex emergencies,
to strengthen the positive role that culture can play in promoting resilient, culturally
diverse societies and in developing more sustainable approaches to inclusive peace
and stability in transitional contexts. The project will provide for rapid assessments
and immediate safeguarding measures of cultural assets that have been targeted by
conflict or disaster, and will strengthen the capacity to coordinate and respond. It aims
to reduce the vulnerability of populations whose culture and heritage have been
targeted or affected in complex emergencies, in particular in the aftermath of
situations that could qualify as “cultural cleansing”.